USDA Awards More Than $36 Million to Restore Sustainable Kansas Fuel Markets Hit by Pandemic

TOPEKA, June 6, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting State Director for Rural Development Kansas Dan Fischer announced the Department has provided $36.25 million to help lower costs and support biofuel producers who faced unexpected market losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are being made available through the Biofuel Producer Program, which was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
“The pandemic disrupted the rural economy through market interruptions,” Fischer said. “The USDA is targeting resources to improve the resiliency of critical markets for Kansas farmers and ranchers.”
USDA is making payments to the maintenance and viability of a significant market for agricultural producers of products such as corn, soybean or biomass that supply biofuel production. These biofuel producers experienced unexpected market losses on a combined 3.7 billion gallons as a result of COVID–19.
The Kansas biofuel producers receiving grants:
A $14,425,052.41 grant to Conestoga Energy Holdings, of Liberal, for two facilities that produce ethanol.
A $5,465,393.86 grant to East Kansas Agri-Energy, of Garnett, for one facility that produces ethanol.
A $2,498,886.14 grant to Western Plains Energy, of Oakley, for one facility that produces ethanol.
A $1,702,855.93 grant to Phillips County Ethanol Project, of Phillipsburg, for one facility that produces ethanol.
A $4,149,000.42 grant to Pratt Energy, of Pratt, for one facility that produces ethanol.
A $1,307,544.34 grant to Nesika Energy, of Scandia, for one facility that produces ethanol.
A $2,131,127.3 grant to Kansas Ethanol, of Lyons, for one facility that produces ethanol.
A $702,118.42 grant to Purefield Ingredients, of Russell, for one facility that produces ethanol.
A $1,217,993.35 grant to ICM Biofuels, of Colwich, for one facility that produces ethanol. (The facility is located in Missouri.)
A $2,654,855.96 grant to Trenton Agri Products, of Wichita, for one facility that produces ethanol. (The facility is located in Nebraska.)
This announcement is part of a larger national announcement including 25 states and 195 biofuel production facilities.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.